Springbok coach Harry Viljoen has admitted that Tuesday's announcement of his team for Saturday's big Test against England at Twickenham was just a ploy.

Viljoen said he needed to divert attention away from the Springboks as they needed to prepare in "peace and quite" for what amounts to the 41-year-old's biggest test in his short tenure as national coach. The ploy worked perfectly because at Tuesday's training session there was not a British TV crew or journalist in sight, in contrast with Monday, when the media interest was overwhelming.

In the official team announced early on Thursday, Viljoen named Percy Montgomery in his favourite position of fullback, selected Braam van Straaten at flyhalf and included battle-hardened Japie Mulder at inside centre.

In another change to the side who beat Wales in Cardiff last Sunday, Stefan Terblanche is back on the Springbok wing in place of the injured Pieter Rossouw. Terblanche was preferred to Chester Williams, who replaced Rossouw on Sunday when the latter was forced off the field with a hamstring injury. Williams is one of the substitutes.

Montgomery takes the place of Thinus Delport, who will be a spectator after sustaining concussion against Wales. Mulder replaces Van Straaten at inside centre, who reverts to flyhalf in place of Montgomery to complete Viljoen's game of musical chairs.

The forward pack stays intact, but loose forward Warren Brosnihan is back in the mix after a strong showing last Wednesday for the midweek side against Wales A.

Lock Hottie Louw is the unfortunate player who loses out. Viljoen, however, has enough cover in case of an injury to starting locks Mark Andrews and Albert van den Berg. Andre Venter has represented South Africa with distinction in the second row, while AJ Venter has played a lot of rugby at lock.

After saying on Tuesday that Mulder was "considered, but hasn't played enough rugby this year", Viljoen sang a different tune on Thursday.

"We're going to need his experience and his physical presence against England. I don't expect it to be a very open game and that's where Japie's physical attributes are going to come in handy."

The coach said in terms of the International Rugby Board's regulations the Springbok camp hadn't done anything wrong by announcing a "bogus" team on Tuesday.

"According to the IRB's regulations we have until 48 hours before the game to announce our side and that's what we have done," he added.

Springbok team: Percy Montgomery; Breyton Paulse, Robbie Fleck, Japie Mulder, Stefan Terblanche; Braam van Straaten, Joost van der Westhuizen; Andre Vos (capt), Andre Venter, Corne Krige, Mark Andrews, Albert van den Berg, Willie Meyer, John Smit, Robbie Kempson. Substitutes: Charl Marais, Ollie le Roux, Warren Brosnihan, AJ Venter, Dan van Zyl, Grant Esterhuizen, Chester Williams.